Family Seeks Answers After Kin's Daylight Abduction in Uthiru

The family of Peter Muteti, a well-known social media influencer, has issued a public plea for assistance in locating him following his reported abduction on Saturday, December 21.

The incident is believed to be connected to a controversial post Muteti shared on his X account concerning President William Ruto, which he deleted shortly after receiving threats and noticing suspicious individuals monitoring him. Family members reveal that Muteti posted the contentious image on Thursday, December 19, and retracted it just hours later due to escalating concerns for his safety.

Witnesses reported that on the day of the abduction, four men forcibly took Muteti from a vehicle in Uthiru, Nairobi, around 9 a.m. Eyewitness accounts indicate that two armed men exited a moving Toyota Prado, seized Muteti, and drove away. In the aftermath, the family noted that Muteti’s phone became unreachable shortly after his abduction. Despite their persistent efforts to locate him, they have encountered numerous challenges.

One relative expresses concern, stating, "Yesterday he went for breakfast and never came back. I went downstairs to check on him, and residents told me he had been abducted."

The family has sought assistance from law enforcement, however, initial inquiries were met with claims of insufficient information regarding Muteti’s whereabouts. Subsequently, detectives from the Kabete Police Station have taken charge of the investigation and are actively working to find the missing influencer. This alarming incident has raised concerns about the increasing number of abductions in Kenya, occurring despite government assurances of public safety.

In November, Human Rights Watch (HRW) accused Kenyan security forces of abducting, torturing, and killing individuals suspected of leading anti-government protests held between June and August 2024. The organization reported that officers detained suspects in unlawful facilities, including forests and deserted structures, depriving them of access to family and legal representation.

Despite the accusations, Kenyan security forces denied involvement in these incidents with President William Ruto urging families to report abductions while emphasizing the need for accountability.